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Lotus Elise ‘05 160 VVC today in Albrington, West Midlands.

Great to meet Mark, finally, for work on his fab car. Cambelt, water pump, tensioner and alternator belt replaced.

We have both hankered after owning one of these, so it’s always great to work on them. Access is a bit more awkward, but we have sockets etc adapted for the job.

Thanks for the cuppas Mark and lovely to meet Tiggy.

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Bryony had contacted us a few months ago asking if we could breath some life back in to her beloved TF 135.

So we went over to Buerton, just south of Crewe this morning. The car was owned by her Mum who passed it on to Bryony. Unfortunately, the head gasket went so the car was put into storage for 5 years, whilst Bryony got on with more important things!

Head gasket, cambelt and water pump replaced and a few other things to put the car back to rights; new battery, air filter, alternator belt. We noted that the underfloor coolant pipes were looking a bit suspect and sure enough when we started to add the coolant it came out the bottom! So these were replaced with stainless ones.

When it came to firing the car up the immobiliser wouldn’t turn off. The key fob battery had gone flat, so we had to re-code another key fob and it still didn’t want to play. Eventually managed to spark it into life enough to get the car running!

MOT day tomorrow and then she can take an excited little 5 year old out for a drive!

These cars often have so many familial connections, and are cherished, it’s always great to see. A bit of a wet and chilly day, but a good one in the end!

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Received a visitor to the workshop this morning. Good to meet Mark who had come over from York to have the roof seals replaced on his TF 115.

Mark is quite happy doing any mechanical stuff, but door seals etc he didn’t fancy tackling! Totally understand. Jon managed to get them sorted, 3 hours later, now to see if they survive the test! Unfortunately, the windscreen surround replacements were two of the same side so these couldn’t be done.

The Beast restocked for the rest of the week!

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Loftus, Saltburn-By-The-Sea and great to meet Andrew, finally, who had called us back in July as the head gasket had gone again on his TF 135, and everyone was telling him to scrap it, but he couldn’t bring himself to.

Poor car had been a bit brutalized, previously, so it was in need of some tlc. Head gasket replaced and cambelt service done. Lots of things replaced and put right. Nice to see Andrew so happy about the car sounding good again!

Date arranged for further tlc at the workshop in the spring.

Thanks for all the cuppas and the wedge of lemon cake!

Fantastic run back over the moors.

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The last day of our visit to North Wales and surrounding areas.

We departed our campsite at Cheshire Fairoaks and went over to Rhyl to meet Mike and his very tidy MGF 135.

Mike had got a bit bored during lockdown so had actually replaced the hydraulic lifters himself, but was still experiencing tapping so wanted us to visit him as planned. Tappety noise sorted, a good chat and a cuppa and then on our way!

We then went over to Bromborough, Wirral to meet Martin and his also very tidy TF 160.

Cambelt service carried out, plus coolant swap and a few other things done. Martin also wanted peace of mind he had made a good choice, we assured him that he certainly had.

Really great to meet you both Mike and Martin, thanks for the very welcome cuppas and especially your garages on what was a very cold and wet day.

Good run back home.

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Bit of a car SOS one this morning. Alison & Jon had contacted us a few months ago to see if we could rescue their Dad’s Freelander, that he was reluctant to part with, as the head gasket had gone again after only a short few weeks of having it done somewhere local.

So we went over to Rainhill near Prescot today to replace the head gasket, plus cambelt service. Whilst we were in there we noticed that the thermostat had become detached, as the engine bay pipes had not been bolted in. So new thermostat fitted. The alternator belt had certainly seen better days, so this was replaced with new along with the power steering belt. A lot of hideous radweld cleared out of many areas. Everything cleaned up and back up and running again. It will go through an MOT tomorrow and then returned to the owner on Sunday! What a fantastic surprise for him. Really glad we were contacted to help.

Andy, who we had seen yesterday, rang to say he couldn’t select any gears on his MGF. So we went back over to Colwyn this afternoon, suspecting that the slave cylinder had blown, due to the car being stood for sometime. But once bled all good again, following a test drive by Andy. When he tried to get out of the car the door release cable snapped. Fortunately, we had a couple on stock, I must be psychic I thought I should bring them with us despite not using any for ages! Again we look forward to hearing how the MOT goes tomorrow.

Another good day with lovely company and welcome sunny skies, apart from one brief soaking. Our last night on a good site at Chester Fairoaks.

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Just near Colwyn Bay this morning for our first call of the day and really great to meet Andy, finally, after the postponement back in April!

What an amazing location to work on his absolute gem of a buy, an MGF 120 mpi. We replaced the head gasket and carried out cambelt service, plus replacement of the underfloor pipes with stainless.

We then went over to Deeside, Flintshire where it was lovely to meet Roger for some work on his very nice TF 135. Both AP calipers replaced, underfloor coolant pipes replaced with stainless, slave cylinder replaced too.

Thank you to Andy and Roger for such warm welcomes, hospitality and great banter and supplying the fab weather!

Jon enjoyed his lemon drizzle cake for his pudding thanks Roger 😀 and thanks for the pics you sent, was a bit too dark for me to take any!

Love the mugs Andy!

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Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

We left our campsite at Strathclyde Country Park and had a good run over to Blyth.

Great to see Steve as always. Soft ride kit fitted to his very tidy TF 135. PRT replaced as the next suspected cause of an intermittent internal heater issue. It’s thought that thermostat was sticking slightly open. It’s never been right since head gasket done approx 7 years ago by local garage, car runs lovely but just this weird problem with the heaters. Let’s see if this has cured it this time.

We await your update Steve. Thanks for the buns and the cuppa!

We then ventured a bit further south and went to see George in Jarrow.

George is having a bit of an overhaul of his TF 160. We swapped over the seats and removed a very soggy carpet. New indicator stalk fitted. New cat and lambda fitted. Next time we go up we shall see it with the body kit all fitted and full respray.

Thanks for the cuppa George, will send dates to return for the other things.

Now on the A1 and heading home. Will be good to be back in our own bed, well for 2 nights anyway!

What a great and successful Scotland tour it’s been. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

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